Couch frame



May 17, 1949. F. J. sc'zHuLTHEls 2,470,525

COUCH FRAME Filed April 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l FEA/Vl( J'SCHUZTHE/S coUcH FRAMEV Filed April 21, 1945 1 :5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRAN/f .71 SCHZ/THE/S A TTQR/VE YS May 17, 1949. F. J. scHuLTHEls COUCH FRAME 3 sheets-sheet s Filed April 21, 1945 Y INVENToR. FRAN/r .I sch/m THE/s A from/Eye Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- COUCH FRAME Frank J. Schnltheis, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of New .'lersey Application April 21, 1945, Serial No. 589,631

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to metal furniture, and is particularly concerned with th-e provision of a new tubular metal furniture frame structure for couches, chairs and the like having new retaining means for upholstery and arm coverings.

The present invention will be better understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a metal couch frame embodying one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. top plan View of the frame of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the frame of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the couch of Fig. 1 with spring and cushions in place;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of an upholstery retaining clip.

The couch frame of the drawing consists of three main parts, viz: a base frame A, a back frame B, and arm frames C.

'I'he base frame A is preferably composed of tubular metal members, is rectangular in shape and comprises front and rear sides I and 2, respectively, and ends 3. Metal brace tubes 4, parallel to ends 3, are connected to front and rear sides I and 2. Metal strips 4a, extend between sides I and 2 and have struck out tongues 4b which serve to hold in place the seat springs 6 (see Fig. 4) Feet 8 are connected under each of the corners of base frame A and one such foot is connected under the front side I of the frame beneath middle brace tube 4. Gusset plates 9 at the corners of the base frame serve to strengthen the frame and support the latter on feet 8.

'I'he back frame Bl is also preferably composed of tubular metal members. Together with the rear side 2 of the base frame, it defines a rectangle having a top side Ill and ends I I. The lower extremities of ends II are attached to the base frame. Thus the rectangular base and back frames have side 2 in common and dene an obtuse included angle. The back frame B is braced by several spaced metal tubes 5 which extend between sides I and 2. Additionally, brace tubes b are connected to sides Il) and tubes 22 and extend parallel to the adjacent ends II of the back frame. A horizontal brace tube I5 disposed some distance above side 2 is connected to ends II of the back frame and is preferably connected to the transversely extending brace tubes 5.

The arm frames C are preferably composed of metal and each includes parallel metal tubes 2l) which extend upwardly from junctions with the lfront corners of the base frame and then rearwardly to the back frame where they are connected to ends Il and braces I3. These tubes 20 are connected together by tube 2I near the upper end of their vertical portions and at their rear ends tubes II and I3 are connected by tubes 22. One tube 20 of each arm frame C is connected to brace tube I3 of the back frame by horizontally extending tube 23.

lSpring retaining strips 5a, similar to strips 4a, are secured to the front or top side IIJ of the back frame and to tube I5 and also to side I0 and tubes 22 of the arm frames. As many of these spring retainers may be used as is necessary to secure the springs 1 in place, several being indicated in Figs. 1 to 4.

Upholstery retaining means in the form of metal strips 30 having projecting tongues 3| (Fig. '7) are attached to the couch frame at a plurality of places, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6. The tongues 3| may be pushed thru the upholstering material and then bent back toward strip 30 and serve to retain the upholstering material in position on the frame.

The arm frames may be covered with cardboard or similar material after the fashion shown in Figs. 4 and 6. In these figures the covering 4U is Wide enough to rest on tubes 20 and span the spaces therebetween, and is long enough to extend from the base frame A along the arms to the back frame B. Similar covering material is wide enough to cover and span the spaces between the horizontal portion of the inner arm tube 20 and the brace tube 22 and is long enough to extend from the vertical part of the arm to the back frame B. The cardboard or other covering for the faces of arm frames C and the inner sides of those arms, may be retained in place by any suitable means. As shown in Fig. 6, these coverings are fixed in position by steel packing bands 4I which are fastened to the outer frame tube 2B, extend across the covering between tubes 20 and are fastened to these tubes. The covering on top of the arms and on the inside of the arms is secured in place by similar bands which are fastened to the outer tubes 20 of each arm and extend over and down past the covering, and is secured to tube 23, as is shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description of a couch frame embodying the present invention that other furniture frames may be made by simple variations of the couch frame. For example, a chair frame may be made by shortening the couch frame to a length suitable for a chair; and by inclining the back at a greater angle t the vertical and lowering or omitting the arms, thechair iiramemay become aloungerame.

It will als@ be understood that thesbasey and back'.

frames need not be rectangular but may be oval or of other shapes as desired; and that the armasv may be variously inclined to the base and back frames. Thus, a variety of furniture frames mayl be made, all embodying this :irnventiom It will be understood that furniture frames ern-- bodying the present invention are composed e11- tirely of metal parts, most oftwhich are tubes are sturdy and strong and are braced' against material deflections. At the same time, theyare quite light and easy to .Inove and handle, The springs' are. Ietainedin place, as is also the upholstery, and all metal parts.; withfwhich asuser' would otherWiseecome-n-to Contact are protected. by covering l which, is removably anchan-ed:A in place.

Havng thus described: invention sa that others-skilledlin the' art .may be able to; under-v standi'and practice thesaune,4 I stateithatf what ldesire tosecure' bg'Letters Pater-1t; is; defi-ned in what is: claimed;

What, is' claimed ist;

1.. A metalfurniture frame; comprising rec. tarrgrular, tubular,` metall: ybase and backirames having one side in common andiV dening; anl ctudedi @louise` angle, tubulaaf braeeszeonnecting the sidesy Oisaidnback irame-betweenits ends,` tubular anni frames ccrnprising inner and outer parallel" tubes connected Ato; land extendinef. up from the f1-fonti corners: of the; basexfframer and. conm r-iectedfv te--theback between its'sides, and brace tubes connecting the upwardlyextenlding parts of the' inner armi tubes; t@ tubes of: theba-ck, frame.

25Av metal furniture frame comprising.l FSG*- tang'ular, tubular', metal. base back. frames having one side in common and defining an included angle greater than about tubular braces connecting the sides of said back frame between its ends, tubular arm frames comprising parallel tubes connected to the base frame near its front corners and to the back frame at its ends, and coverings on and spanning the space betweemthe parallel tubes @E said arm frames.

31; A metaliccuchf frame comprising; rectangular, tubular, metal base and back frames having one Side in common and defining an included obtuse angle,. metal braces connecting the sides of said rectangles between their ends, feet under the cornerssoty saidfbase frame; tubular arm frames comprisingf parallel tubes extending upwardly from the. front. comers: of the base frame and then horizontallyrearwardly to the back frame, brace tubes connecting-the upwardly extending parts of thefinner arm tubes to tubes of the back frame, coverings spanning the spaces between said parallel arm tubes andrbetweenI said, brace tubes, and theeA horizontalpartsof theinner arm tubes, upf-f holsteryvretaining strips. on the topi side. of; the.- bazck trame and; on the filent andrear sides, and ends of the base -frame,-. and cui1edspringretaining means secured to the back and base frames.

following-'i references; arev of record' in the le ofA this; patent:

UNITED STAITES PATENTS Number Name Date.

726,042 Franz Apr. 211903; 130979405 Erb: May 19,; 19.14 1,452,641 Gn'eem .1 Apr.y ZLI,y 1923 23,061,923* Sherman; etzal; Nov. 241-'936 2,169,;1;9.'7: Rzeed5 .au-g. 8 15939. 2,311,405? misiva...V Mar. 13, 19.45

FOREIGN' PATENTS Number Country Date- 

